EndSARs: The movement for police reformed as a result of police brutality in NiG

[CryptopreneurBrainboss]

EndSARs has been on every Nigerians lips for the past couple of days (especially the youth as they're the most affected). Protest has been ongoing in almost all the 36 states, the government didn't take it too serious until international audience like celebrities added their voices to the protest. This protest all started from Twitter but it has been taken to the street. As a Nigerian youth involved in trading bitcoin, you're most likely going to encounter this abuses from the SARs officers if they find any trace of bitcoin transaction or chat on your device when they stop you for search.

Before I go on I want to enlightening you on what SARs stands for; Special Anti-Robbery Squad but instead of protecting the citizens against this robbers they turned on us and extort the youth at any given opportunity. You can read more on this protest, how it started, where we are now etc on Wikipedia

Borrowing a paragraph from the wikipedia page;

SARS officers profile youths largely based on appearance, mount illegal road blocks, stop and search, arrest without warrant, rape women, extort young Nigerians for driving exotic vehicles and using iPhones.

some information on the page isn't up-to-date as their has been numerous reports of death and not just the few mentioned, the most recent was during one of the protest; Heartbreaking! Nigerian Man Who Was Shot Dead During #EndSARS Protest In Oyo..

There has been report of the government dissolving the unit but that isn't something we're new to as there has been report of similar decision in the past but it was just to calm the heat down and nothing of that nature really happened. The reports of police brutality isn't something new so I want to use this opportunity to bring the discussion to the forum. What are your take on this issue and how both the citizens and government can help resolve this problem causing discomfort among the youth of my country.

[Coyster]

The Nigerian government have handled the issue of the menace wreaked on Nigerians by members of the special anti-robbery squad (Sars) in a very poor manner, the youths and others have called for the end of that branch of the police force for many years now, but the government either changes their name, or tell the citizens they have reformed them, but at the end of all that, this brutal annex of the NPF still mete out severe brutality on Nigerians especially the youths with impunity.

The government have never seen a protest in Nigeria like the one ongoing right now, #Endsars is everywhere on the internet, and I'm very sure no matter which country you're in, you should have seen details about that it on the internet, especially Twitter, some days back CNN aired details about the protests as well. That being said, I'm of the opinion that if the president and his government fail to control the growing anger in the hearts of Nigerians, this protest could lead to a revolution, and it wouldn't just be #Endsars, but it would challenge the oppressive, corrupt and irresponsible government Nigerians have had since 1960 independence.

Bitcoin users are not left out in the brutality of this officers, mind you that, it has somewhat prevented mass adoption amongst the youths of this African giant, this officers with no search warrant, collects people's phones/devices orders them to open it and if they find anything, so much so a bitcoin wallet, you are going to be labeled a fraudster/scammer, the situation is as dire as that, as this protests continue in Nigeria, whichever way you can join in, even through a post on social media like many celebrities and footballers around the world have done, it will go a long way to end police brutality in Nigeria.

[Charles-Tim]

What are your take on this issue and how both the citizens and government can help resolve this problem causing discomfort among the youth of my country.

There is no other take on this than the Nigerian governments to desolve this deadly, blood sucking thives that are posing themselves as SARS. Normally, if cyber attackers have enough money to pay them, if they are paid, they will become the friend of the cyber attackers which we called Yahoo boys in Nigerian, but they are making life miserable for other citizens of the country. Even, the Nigerians in diaspora (abroad) are afraid to come home all because of this stupid SARS. I read a news about a Nigerian football that was extorted, how about celebrity child that was given car, all of them are being extorted by Nigerian SARS.

Nigeria itself is not making any sense, if the chairman of EFCC in Nigerian, Ibrahim Magu that is also tackling cyber attackers if found to embezzle millions of dollars and also seizing yahoo boys property and turning it into his own properties instead of governments property, is that a good leadership, it is just like thieves are collecting what thieves have already stolen from people. But SARS are worst, they also deal with innocents, it is not only about you having bitcoin transactions, they deal with anyone looking good and/or driving car.

SARS are wicked, as we heard federal government has desolved SARS, so shall in be, they were supposed to protect Nigerian citizens but they are not, killing harmless Nigerians that carry no gun or any harmful weapons. If you request for it, there are pictures of harmless Nigerians this SARS has killed, I can search for it online and post it here. They are life threaten, and they are no more wanted by Nigerians.

There was a friend I know that traveled to Ekiti (a state in Nigeria), this deadly SARS detained him, he is completely innocent but detained because he is looking good, he was unable to attend the marriage ceremony he came for all the way from Lagos and was detained in SARS custody, he was proving stubborn before he realized nothing could be done than to pay this threats (SARS) money. If they are not desolved, they will become more out of hand because they are already out of hand. All I wish them is hell because hell is a perfect place for thieves like Nigerian SARS.

[BIT-BENDER]

As a nigerian i am ashamed of the nigerian police system, the world was shocked an in support when US where protesting police brutality, US is more recognized/open to the world than nigeria. But police brutality in the US is like scratch compared to that of nigeria

Lawlessness of police is unacceptable and nigerian government are mute off the cries of it citizens. Nigerian police are guilty of
+ rape
+ extortion/bribery
+ misconduct
+ negligence of duty
+ killings

Nigerian citizens are scared of SARS -SPECIAL ANTI-ROBBERY SQUAD- than hoodlums, criminals, kidnappers, SARS  whose duty was for special robbery cases are storming homes, creating road blocks, going through phones in search for financial crimes and this is the duty of the EFCC -economic financial crime commission-

A citizen was shot in the head for refusing to open his private phone for SARS this and misconducts like sexually harassing females who they think dressed inappropriate -dressing is her human right- nigerian youth has had it up to here an we say no more.
END SARS NOW.

[posi]

First of all, thank you for taking your time to create a thread about the EndSARs movement and I only hope the government will do something about it this time because this not the first this issue was discussed but never fruitful and with the celebrities involved, there should be some amendment because the masses are the one that is killed, robbed off their right and badly affected by the abusive behavior of the SARs.
I read that the President promised to bring the culprits to justice what about other Sars police which indulge the same act in the future.
I also read about a Governor which suggested all #EndSARS protests campaign should be prohibited and I ask myself are we in democracy or another form of colonialism or imperialism when the people will elected use their power against us.

I guess the Vice President was right when he advised us to elect people base on merit only and what I fear the most if they decide to attack every citizen that is into cryptocurrency which will be a worse nightmare
Let's just hope this stop and new rules and regulations with penalty will be created to put Sars in check.

[Becky666]

The Nigeria government is not serious towards her citizens when we talk about the welfare and wellbeing of the people they govern. The protest to #ENDSARs won't be feasible but can be rename to something else, like "arm robbery squad". Police Reform will be tough decision any government can take when talk about a group (any armed force) which seem to be a critical arm of the Nigeria Force. It has been over due for this reforms in the country but some groups in the power of corridor won't allow this because of their selfish interest. For your information, Nigeria is be rule by the Military indirectly even in thus era of democracy.

The youths shouldn't clamor for the #endSARs but for reform of the entire system of the Nigeria Police Force. Although, am not a Police Officer but have worked with them and also engaged them in several issues. They were trained and still be train with the Military mindset and not like any other Police Force in the world, the Police system in Nigeria as we talk isn't good for a country, we need a reform of this system for a better policy.

Though I live in Abuja municipal area but haven't encounter any form of harassment from the said group or from the Police. This doesn't mean they're not involved in what they are been accused for. Taking undue advantage over a civilian because of the uniform should be condemn and reject irrespective of the armed forces. What we need is a general reform in the Nigeria system of governance but this will be one step at a time. We're heading towards that, #EndPoliceBrutality to save lives.

[Rapheal0991]

End Special Anti Robbery squad or ENDSARS is a social movement in Nigeria that started on twitter calling for banning of the special anti robbery squad a unit of the Nigeria police force, it is a call to end police oppression and brutality in Nigeria. Nigeria have shared both stories and video evidence of how members of SARS engaged in murder, theft, torture, unlawful arrests,high-handedness,unlawful detention, extrajudicial killing and extortion

[Upgrade00]

I assume a lot of foreign observers would be wondering why protests are still going even though the IGP as well as the president have expressed interest at dissolving the agency, besides what the OP said about there being numerous such announcements in the past with no real action taken, the protest is not only about ending SARS, although that's the hashtag being trended. Nigerians are demanding the government;

• Release all detained protesters, unconditionally. The police assault protesters on ground and sometimes on camera, so we can only imagine what goes on behind a cell confinement,
• Justice for protesters who have been victims of police brutality and lost their lives in the process as well as compensation for their families. A lot of oil e brutality cases have been swept under the carpets over the years and in some cases, officers involved gets promoted,
• Complete Reformation of the police system which would include efficient training and evaluation of the officers charged with protecting the citizens as well as a body to check their excesses.
• We also want a raise in salaries of the police officers to create an enabling environment which would enable them better discharge their duties.
You can find the infographic of this demands using #5for5 on social media

[Smartvirus]

One thing I never understood was, how a Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) took to the street to investigate Cyber crimes while the the armed and unarmed rubbers room free. In fact, the armed robbers are more a concern of local vigilantees than the sars as an armed forces trained to handle such situation. They do their patrol mainly in the morning hours and rest at nights. The only time you see them out at nights is when they are on a raid to oppress some innocent citizen of his right to rest.
It's amazing how thses terror group operate. They even make themselve a drug enforcement agency. Sars has been all about the money. I wonder how they got their training to be both perfect investigators and judge on Cyber crimes.

To show how useless and needless their services have been, how much the group has abused power as a respected armed force, the citizens of the country has taken to the street with one mouth to say no and request for the end of this terror and infridgment of rights. It's ought not to be and it will surely end except, the government is not democratic enough to respect the decision of the masses.

[nelson4lov]

I missed the protest that was held earlier today in Port harcourt. I'd like to say that, I've never been this proud of the Nigerian youths for standing together to get SARS "dissolved" (coming to this later). If we come together like this often to voice our concerns, things would be a lot better in the country moving forward.

SARS has done a lot more bad than good in the country. I had no problem with the police unit until they got derailed and started extorting youths and those who doesn't agree to their extortion demands, they don't hesitate to kill. It's wrong and Nigerian government should definitely put an end to it.

I'm sure you've all heard the announcement about SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics), the new police unit that would replace SARS. They would just end up deploying the same bad officers in the SARS Unit and business would go on as usual.  In my opinion, we should still push to get SWAT scrapped and the youths should be actively participate in the process of evaluating a new unit.

Btw,

Emmanuel is a thief, if Emmanuel's name gets changed to John... Does that mean he would stop stealing?

[Crptomagma]

Well it’s is key to bring these topic to desk. The Special Anti Robbery squad(SARS) of the Nigeria police force in the past few years has brought into the country pains and misconduct among citizens which as supposed to be protected by them. Lot of videos showing dubious and barbaric acts of the SARS officers has been released for the world to see how they treat innocent Nigeria youths. In the past few weeks their have been lots of protests in different state of the country. The youth are clamoring and seeking for their leaders to End SARS menace and police brutality. The citizens are to be guided and protected by the police not to be killed unjustly.

The protests started on Twitter by affected citizens and supported by many including top Nigeria Celebrities, Entrepreneurs, philanthropist and good citizens of the country. The hashtag #Endsars has been the most trending hashtag on Instagram for couple of weeks now and the protests went from Social media to the street, hundreds and thousands of Nigerian youths matched the street with agony to protests for their right and the safety of their unborn children from SARS and police brutality. Though in some part of the country during the peaceful protests of the youths, lots of casualties was recorded as some SARS officers still went ahead to open direct fire on the protesters. Many where injured, arrested and killed during these demonstration.

Information reaching the people as at some days ago. Where the Inspector General of the Nigeria force aired on National television and promise to bring to justice all the bad eggs in the force. In his meeting with one of the most Influential music artist of the country in the person of David Adeleke ( Davido) the IGP promise to Endsars and reform the Nigeria police for better service to the country. Many Nigeria youths living abroad are sometimes scared to comeback home because of abuse from SARS. They youths cried out to international companies like #Apple, #Gucci, #Fendi because they believe they are been killed by the police for looking good and using Apple product. The youths are scared to go about with their smart  phones as the police now searches their phone and even those investing in bitcoin as not safe from the police.

[Mpamaegbu]

#endSARS #endSWAT

The IG of Police disbanded SARS and set up SWAT within a few hours to unsettle demonstrators but that hasn't appeased protesters. Let me not belabour the definition of SARS as a lot of compatriots have provided definition to that. However, some people are of the opinion that the real meaning of SWAT is SARS With Another Title. It's just pouring in of an old wine in a new bottle. It's a shame that a special police force set up to  combat robbery turned against innocent Nigerians while the robbers and internet fraudsters often escape them once they can dole out money to the SARS' officers. There are instances where SARS officers roamed the streets with POS machines to easily extort people they perceived to be criminals without proofs. I am all in for this #endsars thing, though I wasn't a victim of those criminal outfit. This demonstration took the Federal Government of Nigeria by surprise as it never believed it would last this long. The youth have risen to the occasion this time and it's a good thing. There is even one SARS OC, James Nwafor, who was fingered in various innocent murders and the people called for his prosecution but the Anambra State governor, Willie Obiano, shielded him and made him his Chief Security Officer (CSO). Can you beat that? Now, because of the pressure from the ongoing demonstration, Obiano has sacked him and set up a panel to investigate all accusations against Nwafor. Let's see where all these lead to.

[Josefjix]

The protest has degenerated to resolution already. It's more of pains harboured by the youths on bad governance over the years, it is crystal clear they want good leader, freedom from oppression in their own country, liberty to own properties and effect enabling society for the growth of their businesses. They are fed up of being lied to. The disbandment by the IGP was a lie to cover the real truth from the international observers. It is a matter of time before the new leaf turned old one again; the whole system needs overhauling. I'm proud to be alive to witness this new Nigeria.

[CryptopreneurBrainboss]

Twitter has been very helpful in supporting the movement with every opportunity they get. Few days back, Jack (CEO of twitter) showed his support as he argue every donator to the well-being of protesters to do so with bitcoin since bank transaction has been blocked.

Reading through the platform it also came to my noticed that the retweet button has been turned to green in support of the movement (as showed in the image below) but can't confirm the rumors to be accurate since its been long I used the platform and can't remember what the retweet colour was.

Although the news of a customized emoji (as showed in the image below) for the hashtag of the protest can be confirmed.



I'll keep you guys updated on latest development but until then, we keep fighting the good fight to end the abusive treatment from this specific unit.

[CryptocurencyKing]

There has never been any form of democracy than presented in this protest, non that I had head of. A nation or should I say national protest held in all 36 states of the country by citizens who share a common pain for the brutality inflicted on them or their neighbors. I've never witnessed Nigerians care so much for their neighbors or be so united in fighting a just course.

This is why, any form of reform that isn't based on dessolving the so called SARS is just a way of the government telling the public that Nigeria isn't democratic in it's decision taking other wise hence, it's simply running a dictatorship coated in democracy. It's so unfair how aimed men abuses the power been given to them. By abusing every human right in the bid to enforce the law that exists only in their head because, the expressed brutality is so not in the constitution.

[Zilon]

The #endSARS protest has actually bathed SWAT in Nigeria although its a welcoming development but many Nigerian's still habour fear because the same sets of SARS officers will still go in for reformation without been trained for this new call for service. I stand on the opinion that Nigerian Security Service generally should have their officers trained and also give them guidelines on how to carry out their duties without infringing on their citizens right. I call on the president of this great country to look into this so as to avoid a clash between the security Agencies and its Citizens

[Blackpussy]

Although the news of a customized emoji (as showed in the image below) for the hashtag of the protest can be confirmed.



 

the emoji and the blue retweet button was created by jack few hours in response to Adamu Garba after the formal presidential aspirant wrote to him and threatens to sue him to court for supporting and promoting the #Endsars donation link

15 OCT 2020

Dear
@jack
It’ll do you a lot more good if you stay away from Nigerian Politics. You should know that the so-called #EndSARS protest have transformed into political agitation, capable of breaking law & order in our country. You should not be a moral & financial sponsor to this.This is Nigeria, most of the demands initially presented was attended to by the responsible authorities. SARS no longer exist in this country.
Your support for a disbanded entity was a needless interference. We cannot allow killings again in Nigeria in the name of protests.I understand that this may play well to your business, you have more content, more people & more activity on your platform, but to us is about life, peace & security of our dear Country, we cannot allow you to be part of the people sponsoring disorder. We need peace & prosperity.I can see you are even sharing a link for people to donate money for this protest, an event capable of escalation beyond our already overstretched security management.
If this protest continued to evolved into disorder (hopefully not). As a Nigerian citizen, we’ll meet in court
Thank you.
@jack

(source)
https://twitter.com/adamugarba/status/1316521932041400321?s=20

[Charles-Tim]

I have just find some interesting news about EndSARS today, you may like to read. I hope some people that are politicians and that know nothing about how SARS are brutal and endangerng the life of youths in Nigeria will have nothing good to contribute about this. Police brutality must be stopped in Nigeria.

Nigerian federal government meeting US, UK enjoy over EndSARS protests.
EndSARS: Senate in emergency closed section
Nigeria lost 700 billion naira to EndSARS protests- LCCI
Gbajabiamila - I won't approve 2021 budget without provision for EndSARS victims, ASUU.
Senate ask Nigerian president to address Nigerians

A former Presidential aspirant, Adamu Garba, has asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to declare the #EndSARS protests rocking the country illegal.
https://punchng.com/ex-presidential-aspirant-asks-court-to-stop-endsars-protests/

Former Presidential aspirant, Adamu Garba, has sued Twitter and its founder, Jack Dorsey, for $1bn over the resultant violence that has marred the #EndSARS protests rocking the nation.
https://punchng.com/breaking-endsars-ex-presidential-aspirant-garba-sues-twitter-founder-1bn/

[Mpamaegbu]

Beyond this #endsars, it's obvious that Nigerians aren't happy with the lopsided appointments of the Buhari led administration which he has turned into a northern enclave, sort of, and appointing only his kinsmen from the north into juicy positions. No federal character is observed any more in appointments. The APC led government has destroyed all that it took several administrations years to build. It's a big shame that Buhari who was entrusted with so much trust and goodwill by the people has betrayed all that now. Anyone who tells you s/he isn't shocked and disappointed by what the FGN is doing to her citizens is either a clown or a hypocrite.

[Blackpussy]

The APC led government has destroyed all that it took several administrations years to build.

What other administrations built? Where and how? Because the last time I checked this country has been in shambles from birth.

The last administration embezzled our resources and got the country into 6months recession, the Buhari led administration is no different from the past administrations.

Breaking News.

We lost 3 heroes during the peaceful #Endsars protest in Jos and several vehicles destroyed by the government hired thugs.

Lagos State declares a 24hrs curfew

3. Adamu Garba sues Jack (Twitter CEO) to Abuja high court.